Chapter 13: How to say Sav'orq
It was the new morning in Gerudo Town. It was an exhausting night as Ash and Riju completed a ritual to bond each other in Gerudo tradition. Ash slowly woke up, his vision blurred. All he saw was brown and red. As his vision started to sharpen, he saw Riju's sleeping face. 'Riju…' he thought. 'Her face is… cute when she's asleep-' That's when he felt skin bouncing among his lower half of his body and started to wince.
"Ash…" she cried in a sleepy bliss. "So much love…" She stopped and cried quietly once more as she gently rested her naked body onto Ash's bareness. He felt the tight connection of their hips and Riju's movements. Unconsciously, she began to kiss Ash in the lips repeatedly. "More… inside me... I… can't get enough." Ash petted her red hair and hugged her body, a will not to let go. Feeling his fingers on her back and in her hair, Riju soon opened her eyes. She saw Ash and smiled. "Ash… Sav'otta… my voe…"
"I didn't want to wake you until you wanted."
"At least we're both satisfied." The two had one more kiss before Riju got off Ash, her petite frame glistening with sweat while she came out of bed. She stood as a puddle of white sticky liquid formed by her heels. Ash was able to get up as well. "That was an eventful night for us. Is there someone in mind that you wanted to love back in your world?" Ash thought about the question.
"If there is, I haven't seen her, let alone talk." The shrug made Riju smile.
"That's okay. After all, I found my voe and that fate led you to me." They got dressed as Link, Pikachu and the Gerudo returned to the town.
("I hope Ash is okay,") the Mouse Pokémon squeaked. Hearing Pikachu, Link petted him.
"Are you anxious to see your master?" asked Buliara. Pikachu nodded to the question. As the Gerudo settled themselves back to their works, Link, Buliara and Pikachu entered the palace as Ash stood by Riju sitting on the throne.
"Vasaaq," she greeted. "How was the stay at the Kara Kara Bazaar?" Buliara sighed to the questioning.
"Even as it is tradition," she began. "I still worry about you, even though you're with your chosen voe."
"Do not mistaken my calm demeanor as a dismissal of your concerns," Riju calmly rebuffed. "You and Link have given me enough courage to stand amid the chaos presented by Calamity Ganon." Buliara nodded to Riju's clarification.
"You've done a great job watching out for her before Link and I came around," Ash mentioned. Buliara scoffed to the young voe's praise.
"You may be Riju's chosen significant other, but you're still a voe in my eyes," she dismissed. Riju turned to Link.
"Regardless, there's still the reward for you, Link," she addressed as she turned to two chests on the sill looking out the back of the town. "Inside those chests are the last items held by Chieftain Urbosa. There is no question she would want you to wield them to carve out Calamity Ganon's ambitions." Link accepted and opened up the chests. One chest held a two-tipped scimitar with a gold hilt and handguard.
"The Scimitar of the Seven," Buliara named. "Chieftain Urbosa's signature weapon." Link nodded before he opened the other chest. He pulled out a circular shield with a green outside ring, red inner ring and a ruby in the middle. There was a gold design that had curves and spear-like heads above and below the ruby. Between the gold parts were blue jewels and small green diamonds were around the outer part of the red ring. Gold studs covered the green ring. "And that is Urbosa's Daybreaker Shield." Link nodded to the rewards.
"Link may accept the sword and shield that belonged to Urbosa," Ash started. "But he's told me that his main weapon is waiting for him." Pikachu blinked to Ash's meaning.
("He doesn't say anything,") he squeaked. Realizing what Pikachu referred to, Riju nodded.
"Link isn't one who talks much, let alone have a full conversation," she mentioned.
"That's exactly it," Ash agreed. "His actions speak louder than words." Link smiled as he crossed his arms and shook his head. "No?"
"It's not that he doesn't agree," Buliara pondered. "But he knows what awaits him." Riju stood up.
"Ash, Link, may Buliara and I request for you two to return to the marketplace?" she asked. "I have a little preparation to attend."
"Sure thing," Ash accepted. "Link and I can train." Link nodded to the idea as they headed down to the marketplace. Holding wooden swords back outside, Ash and Link clashed and swung. Ash lunged with a forward stab, but Link deflected it away. Pikachu watched as he snacked on a Voltfruit. "That was good. Have you tried using the handle of the sword to attack?" The idea made Link blink. "Okay, let me show. Here I come!" Ash charged at Link with his sword out like he wanted to swing. However, Ash spun the sword to a backhand before he attempted a thrust, handle first. It caught Link off guard and he couldn't move fast enough as he took the handle to the gut. He keeled to a knee as he tried to catch his breath. Pikachu reached Link, worried.
("Are you okay?") he asked. Link nodded to his condition. He awed the strike by Ash. He pondered to the attack.
"It's an idea if you can't draw your swords fast enough," Ash advised. "It can buy you an extra second." Link nodded, awing the tactic. He returned to his feet. "Do you know how to quick draw your sword?" Link nodded as he switched swords, using one of the swords he picked up from the Yiga Clan. He grabbed the hilt before he swung the blade as he pulled it out of the sheath. Ash was far enough back that he wasn't in the blade's path. He nodded to Link's skill.
("That's a quick draw?") questioned Pikachu.
"It's pretty fast, huh?" pointed out Ash. "What's next, a rising slash attack?" Link pointed to Ash, wondering about his idea. "Okay… It's something like this." Ash held his sword with both hands. He closed his eyes before taking a breath. He did a full spin before he swung his sword with the tip only a few inches from the ground. He then swung upward like an uppercut. He carried the blade upward and back around when the tip reached the apex. He landed on the ground after another spin and held the sword with one hand. Link looked on with intrigue.
("That looked like Sky Uppercut,") Pikachu studied. Link started to picture himself looking up at a massive monstrosity made of malice. Using the Scimitar of the Seven, Link scored a strike using Ash's technique.
"How is the training?" asked Riju. All turned to Riju and Buliara, but the voe gawked to the Chieftain's new look as if she had tattoos all over her limbs. Flowery patters with vines that looked like a stream lightning bolts down the arms and legs. The floral and electric patterns made Ash's eyes expand to the point they were about to fall out.
"Lady Riju, what did you do to your body?" questioned Ash.
"As it is tradition for the engagement, my retainers have covered my arms and legs with a special form of tattoos," Riju explained as she removed her stiletto heels. On them looked to be a diamond-like emblem. The middle looked separated from the top and bottom in which it looked like a monkey wrench holding two circles to the left and right. "This is the symbol of the Gerudo. It has been ever since the beginning of our existence."
"I got to say, whoever did this is awesome," Ash awed.
"They are called Henna Tattoos," Buliara named. "Unlike the average tattoo, Henna Tattoos are only temporary."
"Oh, that's pretty cool," Ash awed. "It makes me wonder if I can have some." Riju giggled to the thought.
"There is one that can help seal our engagement," she offered. On her right palm was the same Gerudo emblem, but the small circles looked like a pair of Pokéballs. "Those balls that you made your Pokémon appear from is for you as accepted, not only as one of the Gerudo, but as my significant other." Ash held Riju's hands to see.
"Even now, we have been united by this. I can just imagine when we do become married."
"And have children of our own." The two and Pikachu had a laugh. "Speaking of, here: an engagement bracer." She helped slip a gold bracelet onto Ash's arm as there was a similar one on Riju's wrist with carvings of symbols on them "But now, I should not hold you back from returning home."
"Right. I know I came here. There has to be a way back… and by the time I do, I'll be a Pokémon Master."
"And I can't wait, not just to have you forever, but with some Pokémon." The two engaged in a kiss while Pikachu saw it from Link's shoulder. Tears fell from Riju's closed eyes. "I guess… this is Sav'orq."
"But even then, we'll be back together." A nod from Riju allowed Ash, Link and Pikachu to leave. Outside of the town's walls, Link stopped Ash.
("Now what?") asked Pikachu. Sheikan Slate in hand, Link pressed on it before they started to teleport. They arrived at a shrine which was near the stable where Epona was dropped off. Ash soon regained his composure before seeing the stable.
"Hey, it's the stable we stayed at!" he realized. Link nodded.
"Link…" sounded Zelda. Link, Ash and Pikachu blinked and looked around. "Link…"
"Zelda?" guessed Ash.
"Yes, young one," Zelda acknowledged. "You do not know how thankful I am for your efforts in helping Link."
"We appreciate it, but we need to find a way back to our world."
"I am aware, but I cannot offer a method as I am using all of my strength to withhold Ganon." To Ash, their inability to leave meant that helping Link was inevitable.
"Perhaps, we can save you before you can help us."
"I would not endanger you. Only Link can face Ganon and free me. I see it become his path, but without the Master Sword, it's a task that's most difficult." The refusal made Ash and Pikachu feel empty.
"Well, if anything… It could mean more time with Riju." Link proceeded to the stable. The retriever that played with Ash spotted and ran to the trainer. "Hey, did you miss me?" The retriever gave Ash a tongue bath, tickling the trainer. Link smiled to the dog's affection. Piaffe saw the retriever and Ash back together.
"Welcome back," he greeted. "It seems the dog misses you." Sesami also saw it while escorting a donkey.
"Yeah, but it's been a few days," Ash assured. Seeing the sun beginning to set, Link offered to stay the night.
"Did you come back for Epona?" asked Sesami. Link nodded to the guess.
"That makes sense," Piaffe nodded. "Are you taking off now?" Link shook his head as a tall Gerudo wearing gray brassier and gray trousers arrived. She wore a crown-like tiara.
"Sav'saaba," she greeted. "I heard there was some activity at Gerudo Town." Ash nodded to the claim.
"Wait, you know what Calisa's talking about?" asked Sesami.
"Yeah, Link and I became honorary citizens there after helping them," Ash briefed. "Not to mention that Chieftain Riju has an engagement with me." The others seemed shocked.
"You and the Chieftain?" gawked Piaffe.
"Yep, and that's from reining Vah Naboris back to the control of the Gerudo," Ash added. Calisa seemed pleased.
"So, that's why the Divine Beast seemed pleased," she sighed in relief. "Then, I guess I can say Sarsqo." She and Ash shook hands. As the crescent moon began to rise, Link fed Ash and Pikachu. He looked to the Sheikan Slate and at the center as Ash looked at his PokéDex.
"I wonder if there are Pokémon that Riju would like," he wondered. Link looked to the Dex. Something seemed to interest him. He alerted Ash who turned to him. "What's up?" Link pointed to the Dex. "You wanted to look through this?" Link nodded before the trainer handed it over. That's when both the Dex and the Slate were aglow. This astounded everyone.
"That's something," Sesami gulped. "Could the two be made of similar technology?" Link put the Slate on top of the Dex. That's when a new map appeared with an icon.
"Wait, is that a part of the Pokémon World?" guessed Ash.
"You mean your world?" wondered Calisa. Link had an idea to how the devices made a connection. He gave the Slate to Ash. Suddenly, Ash realized how it worked.
"Since Professor Birch gave me this model, it's likely connected to his home in Littleroot Town," he guessed. Link crossed his arms in thought. He looked to the moon and Ash followed.
"My guess is that since he knows how the Shiekan Slate works," Piaffe pondered. "He could use it to send you back to your world. However, he'll want to do it in the morning." Link nodded, confirming the guess. The next morning, Link, Ash and Pikachu prepared as the retriever came to Ash.
"It seems the retriever wants to go with you," Calisa believed. Ash smiled and seemed pleased as Epona came out of the stable.
"What do you say?" asked Ash. The retriever barked happily. "Okay! We're going for a little trip!" Ash and Pikachu returned to Link with Epona as he put the two devices back together. "We're ready."
("Let's go back home!") cheered Pikachu. Link nodded as he activated the Slate. They soon disappeared. Was this their trip back to the Pokémon World? And could Riju see her beloved voe again?
TO BE CONCLUDED...